The day has come.

It's been awhile since my last post. Be patient with me. I've been super busy trying to bring you all new and exciting things.

My new webpage is coming along and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

Life continues to move forward as usual which is a good thing. Lot's of love in this house I tell you!

BK (Bonus Kid) is well established now in 8th grade. Can't believe that next year he will be a highschooler! Time flies!! He's preparing for an entrance exam for a great highschool here in town. We think he'll do great. He has been busy with the basketball team as well. Although, last week he had a bit of a set back. He broke his finger. Hopefully that will heal up quickly and he can get back to the game.

The little one (J) is busy growing like a weed!! She's getting so big I can't hardly stand it. I remember her being so tiny!

So little!

What has been on my mind for several weeks now is the fact that J has stopped nursing. She did it all on her own, much to my dismay.  When it comes to breastfeeding my story has been a bit of a bumpy ride.

J was born in March of 2011, a rather perfect birth actually. I did it naturally and I have to admit is was the best part of the entire experience (pregnancy included). I wouldn't have it any other way. I got to experience, fully, all of what it takes to give birth. When she was born she nursed right away. She did well, although there is a learning curve for both. I stayed in the hospital an extra day just to make sure we were both getting the hang of it.

J nursed, well, for about a month or so and then one day decided it was hard work. She would scream. Not just a little bit but so much so I feared nursing in public! It was heart breaking. I thought for sure I must be hurting her. We had already figured out that dairy wasn't sitting well in her stomach (the dairy that was passed through my milk) so I stopped eating all dairy (haven't eaten since, yay!). But, this, we could not figure out.

The coaches for breastfeeding were not much help. Telling me to just push her on and so on. It was so frustrating. I finally went in to see J's pediatrician and she simply told me to pump and give her a bottle. She's still getting breast milk! So, for about 4 months I pumped. Every 2 hours at first then every 3 hours. It was a lot of work but so worth it in the end!

One day as J sat miserably pre-teething I gave nursing another try. She took to it and didn't stop! She was nursing again!

So, when I say I wasn't ready to let nursing go completely I mean it. It was a long road for us and I just wasn't ready. She had moved to once per day several months ago but on the day after she turned 17 months (a few weeks ago) she looked up and me and shook her head no. She's been doing it ever since. Trust me, I've tried. I cried. I cried. It was so hard to let go. I know I gave her the best for as long as she wanted.

My baby is growing up.

Do I have a bit more freedom now? Yes. Of course. But, I still think about it everyday. What gives me great pleasure is knowing she and I, as a team, made it as far as we did. I didn't give up and neither did she.

Go mom and baby!

Today she's nearly 18 months old. She is a little ball of energy!

Always getting into everything!

Her first birthday has come and gone. We know sit and think, wow, only 6 more months and she will be 2! How did it go so quickly? How have we managed? To be honest, she's a fairly easy baby. J has been a joy!!

First birthday!

My secret to motherhood is to spend every moment possible playing with, teaching, loving, nurturing you little ones. They will love you for it! I tend to want to hug and cuddle her more than she wants. She's so independent!

This past weekend we took the kids to the Phoenix Zoo. She loves animals so much I feel that zoo's are a great learning experience for her. I can teach her the value of life, animal life. I can teach her about captivity and my thoughts related. I can also show and teach her about all sorts of animals she wouldn't otherwise ever see. Picture books don't do them justice. We all had such a great time this weekend!

I really just wanted to take him home. He just sat there with me. He was truly cute!

How my life has changed since having my little one.

How has your life changed after having kiddos?

I count my blessings everyday with the family I have.

My little one is so grown up. I love watching her grow. I can't wait to see what kind of woman she becomes. What kind of kid. What she will be when she grows up. All those things.

But, first I will sit back and watch her just be.

Cheers!